by Kevin Buczek
GOLDSBORO, N.C.-Bulldog seniors Daniel Claytor and Michael Marshburn fired the only two rounds under par in the first round of the 2012 CenturyLink Invitational co-hosted by Barton College and Mount Olive College at Lane Tree Golf Club on Monday.
Claytor posted the low round in the last group of the day when he turned in a scorecard of three-under par 69 on the 6,912-yard layout. Claytor was even after nine holes but used three consecutive birdies on 13, 14 and 15 to get under par.
The defending CenturyLink Invitational individual champion has a one shot lead on Marshburn, who shot a two-under 70. Marshburn birdied No. 17 to go four-under but a double bogey on the last hole cost him the overnight lead.
Claytor, a two-time NCAAA DII All-American and Marshburn, the 2011 DII Southeast Region co-medalist and honorable mention All-American, both made five birdies. The two Conference Carolinas First Team All-Conference honorees will be paired together in Tuesday's final round with Mount Olive's Mark O'Hara, who finished the opening round at even par 72.
The Bulldogs – ranked No. 22 in the Golf World/Nike Golf preseason coaches' poll – recorded three of the top-five best rounds with sophomore Brian Quilter turning in a 73 after finishing with a two-under 34 on his back nine. Quilter is tied for fourth with Post University's Thomas Rees.
"It was a nice start to the season," 16th-year Barton head coach John Hackney said. "Marsh and Claytor were solid all day and Brian has been playing well this preseason. A few of the other guys just couldn't get the putts to drop, but I expect them to come surging up the leaderboard tomorrow. The greens were a lot faster than during the practice round and the pins were tough, so overall, I thought it was a good effort. I would like to see us get five guys on the All-Tournament team (top 10)."
The top-10 of the individual tournament (no teams scores) is rounded out by 74s by Lucas Norman (NC Wesleyan), David Shields (Mount Olive), Dan Bradbury (Post) and Dalton Gore (Mount Olive) and 75s by junior Nicolas Fonseca (Barton), Matthew Reid (Belmont Abbey), Jesus Valderrama (Mount Olive), Philippe Tjantele (Mount Olive) and Jose Ramirez (Mount Olive).
Rounding out play for Barton was junior Micah Lawrence (76), sophomore Austin Doerr (77), junior Dermot McElhennon (79), sophomore George Shenas (79) and freshman Richard Moore II (84).
The final round of the CenturyLink Invitational start with tee times beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
